Thank you for responding to this Weblog (blog). We wish to maintain a high level of integrity and responsibility among our participants.
In the spirit of camaraderie of the blogsphere, interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this weblog WITH THE CONDITION that they are credited to akadirjasin.blogspot.com/akadirjasin.com to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

A Directory of Blogs & Websites on Society, Politics, and Economy of Malaysia.

Visitors

Followers

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Is It True, No Forgiveness From Mohd Najib?

A Kadir Jasin

[Please take note, ANONYMOUS comments with not be entertained. When commenting, your real identity is preferred. But a suitable pseudonym is accepted. If you have to use anonymous, please print your name or pen name at the bottom of your message. Please avoid seditious, defamatory and libelous statements. Unrelated comments will not be given priority.]

AFTER reading a Bernama report of the live interview the Prime Minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, gave to Bernama TV, I wonder if I have misjudged and misread Mohd Najib Abdul Razak all this time.

I first came into direct contact with the Prime Minister in 1977 when I interviewed him for the now defunct Business Times. He was 23 years old, a first-year Member of Parliament and still unmarried.

My last formal meeting with him was in March last year, just a few days before he became Prime Minister on April 3.

I had always thought of him as nice, non-confrontational and forgiving person.

But Rosmah, in the interview painted a somewhat different picture of her husband. She was quoted as saying: “I always tell others not to underestimate Datuk Najib, he is not easily angered but do not provoke him. If he is angry, there is no forgiveness for you.”

I know he does not get angry easily. In my meetings with him over the years – including friendly after lunch chats at his old Jalan Duta house – I told him many unpleasant and uncomplimentary things. Some were officials in nature while others were personal. He seemed to take the comments and criticisms calmly and showing strong emotion.

So when the woman closest to him said “if he is angry, there is no forgiveness for you”, I am surprised. I have never considered Mohd Najib to be a vengeful person.

Then again who am I to argue with the person closest to him. I have either misread Mohd Najib all these years or he has changed. Either way it does not bode well for the people.

As Prime Minister, not everything that is told to him will be pleasing. There’ll be news and information that is bound to displease or anger him.

Also, it surprised me that Mohd Najib is capable of, or is in the habit of stomping his feet. But that’s what Rosmah told the TV station. She said:

“Datuk does not say much but he registered what is happening around him. If I made a mistake, he will reprimand me. If he stomp his feet, it will shudder me.”

Maybe he does that with his wife. The feet stomping that is!

Rosmah said: “What is important we are close to each other where we can talk things over, we laugh and share jokes as it is important that a leader should not be so stressed out.

“So when he comes home, we watch TV together, we go out to dinner together. In short, we are best friends.”

But most important is Rosmah’s dismissal of the notion that she is a hidden hand behind the Prime Minister’s decision-making process.

Asked about the allegation, she said: “I have not heard about it, but it is not something that I am sensitive of as it is not true. Maybe I am a bit vocal or gregarious... I like to have friends unlike Datuk Najib, who is a bit reserved.

“But it does not mean that since Datuk Najib is a reserved person, I am making the decisions... I am the type, who will voice out my dissatisfaction, but once said, it is done. I do not harbour feelings.”

Whatever the case may be, the important thing is his one year as the Prime Minister is fast approaching and the people are watching. It is their assessment that really counts.

“I have not heard about it, but it is not something that I am sensitive about as it is not true. Maybe I am a bit vocal or gregarious... I like to have friends, unlike Datuk Najib, who is a bit reserved.

“But it does not mean that just because Datuk Najib is a reserved person, I am making the decisions... I am the type who voices my dissatisfaction, but once said, it is done. I do not harbour ill feelings,” she said in an interview on Hello Malaysia over BernamaTV at Wisma Bernama here on Friday.

Rosmah said that although Najib was not a man of many words, he should not be underestimated.

“I always tell others not to underestimate Datuk Najib. He is not easily angered but do not provoke him. When he becomes angry, there is no forgiveness for you.

“Datuk does not say much but he registers what is happening around him. If I make a mistake, he will reprimand me. If he ever starts to stomp his feet, I will shudder.

“What is important is that we are close to each other. We can talk things over. We laugh and share jokes. It is important that a leader should not become too stressed.

“So, when he comes home, we watch tv together, we go out to dinner, together. In short, we are best friends,” she said.

Rosmah said that she looked after her husband’s needs such as food, clothes and health.

“When he is at home, I do not go out unless I have prior engagements. I also ensure that Datuk Najib stays fit by exercising at the gym.

“I try to ensure that he is not troubled by having to haggle over petty matters as his thoughts should be on the people and the country,” she added.

On another issue, Rosmah advised parents to get back to basics by passing on to their children the tradition of being respectful and thankful.Parents should not leave the responsibility of teaching their children entirely to schools, she added.

"I am taking a serious view on this matter. Why do youths nowadays fail to say thank you, do not feel they are indebted or do not have respect for others?

"We need to have an awareness campaign, a programme to teach children to respect others. We may have to return to the tradition of mothers pinching us if we did not say 'thank you'.

"Nowadays, mothers no longer pinch their children. When their children make mistakes, they are not reprimanded," she said.

On the PERMATA Pintar programme, she said that about 400 smart children attended a summer camp held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia recently.

"Under the PERMATA Seni programme, a children's concert involving an orchestra, a choir and traditional performances will be held at the end of the year," she added. -- Bernama

i think she was commenting on her relationship with najib but you took it that she was talking about najib's relationship within the political environment. definitely wrong.

when you met najib, both your capacities were different than when rosmah meet up with her husband every day...

i think the story about rosmah's stranglehold on m'sian politics as well as najib is crap. how could a man who is so experienced in politics can get henpecked. if he is, he wont know how to maneuver himself in politics.

1. I think we have to take Rosmah's words that Najib will not forgive when he is angry. After all she is Najib's closest partner and above all Najib is not Malaikat.

2. But as a Prime Minister, for his closest companion to reveal such an unforgiveness character of a Prime Minister is not a wise thing to do. As a national number One leader, Najib should have the forgiveness personality.Otherwise Najib will be facing with a severe and serious stress problem every time he gets angry on many occations during his tenure as a Prime Minister. Ini sangat bahaya.People says "a hungry man is an angry man and an angry man is a mad man. Therefore an angry man is a mad man."

3. To be fair to Najib and Rosmah, I think what Rosmah meant was that when "Najib is angry of something, he will normally forgive but not forget." I think that sounds more reasonable and fair.

Rosmah can do what she wants or better still no one can stop her , but one thing for sure is this situation will not go on for very long.Najib will be replaced before the term of office is over or at best will no longer be the P.M. after the next GE regardless of the outcome.So Rosmah make hay while the sun shines !

For every succesful man there is a woman as the saying goes. The public may have a wrong notion of DSR's frontline approach as often depicted by the media or word of mouth. Hence the hidden hand perception. We are used to sideline approach, rightly so of wives of former premiers and top politicians.

It is sometimes difficult to hide ones true emotions and personality especially under stress and duress. Thought that table banging, finger pointing and fist showing is part of it. But that is not good either for it may end up in fracas. Anyway, the most important thing is coming up with the right decisions at the right time to solve the prioritised issues with wisdom to be translated into public good.

On the PERMATA Pintar program is something like adding salt to sea water or export carpets to Belgium. Those children involve are creme de la creme and come from urban, established families who have the means and the know what to do with their children.

The fact is that the needy and deprived ones in the rurals should be given more attention in terms of facilities and opportunities. This would be fair. Go and see the small town and rural schools in Sarawak and Sabah and you know what I mean. The same applies to sekolah BISTARI concept carried out under Najib before.

Tak semua org buta hati. Action always speak louder than words. What DS shud take note off is not her words but her body language...It conveys a hell lot more....in fact body bespoke of arogance...That is the one she should watch out for after all non verbal communication is 77% and verbal only 23%. You ought to know that Pak Ngah....Yes....the scribe may influence but what is not being said speaks louder...

I think by you writing this article will solicit both pleasantry and not so pleasantry comments about DSRosmah.

I wonder why it is necessary for DS Rosmah to give interview to talk about DSN and her relationship with the husband publicly. Is this part of media PR campaign for Rosmah?? or DSN??. If so, wonder this is the best strategy. Perhaps they should take que from previous PMs wives.

I think public want to see only DSN and his cabinet members running the country. No family members or friends should ellipse cabinet members. I believe you have written about this in previous article.

1st Lady Of Malaysia...everyday you see her pictures in the newspaper...this did not happen during Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah days as PM...everyday malaysians has to be reminded of what the 1st Lady is doing despite the fact that there are more important news to be highlighted...enough already!..

i would say it would be 'no forgiveness from the 1st Lady' rather than from Mohd Najib...

From your comments, it is clear that the interview backfired. Instead of painting a good image of or correcting the bad image of DSNJ, it adds minuses to the image of DNSJ. Rosmah wants to dispel the "queen control" image by giving the interview.She failed.The rakyat do not buy it.Surely she knew and Najib knew.That is the reason why she gave the interview. Why did Lee Kwan Yew visit her? She ought not to have agreed to the meeting, just like Tun Dr. Mahathir.The rakyat have to tolerate Rosmah as long as DSNJ is the PM.

I seriously think DSR must learn to keep her mouth shut n take cue from former PMs wives. Don't touch about personal relationships n don't talk politics. Just do all the charity work that she is expected to do. A lot of ppl have not forgotten that she was still "married" when she started her "relationhip" with DSN and a lot of ppl have not forgotten her "track record" when DSN was the Minister of Defense.

A lot of ppl also know how she "treats" her stepchildren.She should also make sure that none of "her children" with former husband and with DSN are not in the media either.

In other words..be seen not heard coz she has already build a "reputation of being QC (Queen Control)"

You will be seeing lots of -ve comments rather than +ve ones in regard to DSR after all mulut tempayan boleh tutup....

My friends and I had always commented about Rosmah whenever we had "teh tarik" session. To be frank, we never miss gossiping about Rosmah how she carries herself as a "first lady".

My sincere advice to Rosmah is very simple. Keep a low profile and don't overdo and over-expose herself as if she wants to be an impressionist by ensuring that her presence is always felt wherever she goes and whatever she does.

The fact remains and which cannot be denied that it is the talk of the town that whenever she made statements or appeared on TV people tend to feel that she is trying to portray herself as if she is acting like a Minister rather than the wife of a Prime Minister. Even though it is just a perception, but it is something that could affect Najib's personal standing as a "macho" Prime Minister.

I hope she doesn't simply ignore peoples' perception about her character. Of course, we all know she is an intelligent and qualified lady just like Obama's wife but she has to draw a line which particular area of activities that are most appropriate for her as a "first lady" to be involved in, which do not override or overstep other peoples' functions particularly the functions of Ministers.

Paham, pahamlah !! Jangan gelojoh, nanti tersungkuh!!

It looks like she is a liability to Najib rather than an asset. This does not augur well for Najib to establish his grip and trying to hold tight to his fragile government.

Always remember that respect is to be earned and nowadays it is not easy for a public figure like Rosmah to get the respect not unless she makes a serious effort to make others comfortable with her presence by being humble and down to earth!! This is an art which only can be learned through practice to make it perfect.

If you were to analyse all the previous "First Ladies" Rosmah is the only First Lady that has a lot of controversies. Why? I think she needs a lot of adjusments to her "dented" personal image. There is no doubt she is an intelligent lady and by academic qualfication she is considered quite highly qualified and yet she is being dislike by most people. It is just unfortunate for her to get very poor perception from most people. She certainly needs help how to handle her status as a graceful First Lady.

I think it is more of her facial expression which some people are not comfortable with. She looks snobbish and doesn't have the motherly touch. Not like Tun Siti Hasmah. Outwardly, her expression seems to have an element of hypocrisy.

Well, I have been criticizing her so much but I have no malice against her. I want her to be in the right frame of mind as a Fisrt Lady so that by having the right attitude she will definitely be an asset for Najib to move forward with confidence.

Like you I am an oldtimer. I served Najib's father and Umno and so I knew Najib well enough as a boy, a youth and later young politician, especially when Dr Mahathir sent him back to Pahang as MB. Dr M once told me to "tengok-tengoklah budak tu". As an old politician I am still committed to Umno.

But power does change people. Yes Najib is a nice friendly bloke and had a very good profile when he was Pahang MB and still married to the Tengku from Kelantan. He listened when I talked but not necessarily that he followed my advice. That was a long time ago. Now ahli politik pencen are not welcomed by the party. We are kaki kachau. Orang tua nyanyk, kaki sebok.

So Datuk, maybe Rosmah was correct. Maybe Najib has changed and became unforgiving. Tidak ada maaf bagi mu. Maybe that's what power and idolation by the main stream media do to the nice young Najib that I know in Pahang until Jalan Eaton. May Datuk you also have to be extra careful not to provoke him or there will be no forgiveness to you if it is not already. But we oldtimers cannot and should not stop talking to show the willing young people the right path. At that local Masjid, they call me walking dictionary or Pak Kamus.

You and I are old married people. We know what our wives can do to us. We don't need their advice but we asked them from time to time to stop them from making noise later or leter. But some wives are more forceful than the husbands. They talk more than the husbands.

Noted your clarification on the comments made by Shahimah and I think it is true indeed.

However, watched a glimpse of TV footage on CNY celebration in Klang, shocked and awed to hear Rais Yatim elevated the status of Rosmah to another 'almost me to puke' level when he announced Rosmah as 'wanita terutama Malaysia' and that lady with her cheeky sepet eyes smiled to full satisfactions. Rais Yatim really knows how to butt her up.....

DS Rsmah is trying and hoping to be the Eva Peron of Malaysia. This won't go because she is not as beautiful and charismatic as Eva; we are less romantic than the South Americans!

Her obstrusive ways does not befit as PMs wife in the running of the affairs of the country. This is intimidating to certain ministries she may encroach with her projects.

She is further weakening Najib. The talk of the town (there must be some truth in it) is that she's the hand behind the PM. He is already saddled with poor a performance rating of commissions and omissions.

There are so many charitable works she can dabble with to help ease the burden of the rakyat.

The two of them do not really have synergistic effect in terms braininess meaning that two heads is no better than one in fact worse!

Yes,you are right. Who are you to argue with the woman closest to DS Najib.

DS Najib was born in the year of the SNAKE i.e. if his birthdate is true(23rd July 1953). His influential element is WATER and that makes him a WATER SNAKE.

You are right when you thought that DS Najib is non-confrontational and forgiving.People born in the year of the SNAKE are generally peace-loving and prefers a calm and quiet life.

These attributes compliment their nature that SNAKES cannot thrive if they are under duress.

SNAKES become easily stressed when their lives aren't peaceful or in order. Too much stress can shorten a SNAKE's life.So that's why Rosmah said it is not good for Najib,as a leader,to be stressed out.

You are deadright again in not argueing with the person closest to Najib. Because SNAKES reveal feelings to people closest to them.

My question goes.Is his wife the only closest person to him?

I learnt that DS Rosmah's birthday is on the 10th of December and one blogger states that she was born in 1951.

If this is true, she's supposed to be a METAL RABBIT. She is one classy, sophisticated, expressive, well-mannered and stylish female RABBIT.

The good sides of METAL RABBITS are that they have more strength, resilience and determination, more intense in their actions,work-related or romance. These I believe.Im married to one male METAL RABBIT.

As far as incompatibilty,luckily there was no mention between a SNAKE and a RABBIT. But snakes do eat rabbits.

The irony of it, if Rosmah is a true RABBIT, she then makes an excellent DIPLOMAT and POLITICIAN.

To conclude,my humble opinion is that,DS Najib and DS Rosmah should switched job.

Public figures know that everything about them is put under the microscope. Their wives, children, mothers,fathers and friends are in the list.They can be assets or liabilities.Their behavior and conduct,etc will influence the public perception in respect of these public figures.For politicians,the ultimate will be the ballot box.

DSR has chosen and DSNJ has endorsed the involvement of DSR in national politics.DSNR in his political wisdom,wants DSR to help him implement all the government policies, directly or indirectly.And UMNO is solidly behind DSNR as its President.As currently perceived, DSR's involvement is a liability.Let's see the results of GE13.

Dear Datuk AKJ,Just shows the real DSR. Pity that she should reveal herself through such interviews. Hmmm the Permata Pintar is to a certain extent stepping on the boundaries of a few Ministeries. Enough said, if she really wants to emulate a model 1st Lady just go and talk to Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah.

Assalamualaikum.Anything can happen in the year of the Tiger. So we have to be prepared for any eventuallity.I personally feel we have come to a complete cycle in expressing our views.Have it brought any goodness to the rakyat? I doubt it.In fact many are unnecessarily in trouble now.

The following are some of the opposing views expressed by our debaters that that underwent 180 degrees turn due to changing situations :-

- Public demonstration is not our culture. The very people who opposed demonstration are happily organising one now.- Police are more understanding in dealing with demonstrators now.- YB Dato' Hishamuddin is happy that more people understand the need for ISA. According to him some people who wanted the law to be repealed is now asking the Govt to use it for law and order.- People who were indifferent to the National language issue is now championing it.- Wielding of a keris is no longer a taboo.- The majority of bloggers gave poor rating to YAB DSNR administration. With TDM latest comment that DSNR one Malaysia policy is good for the country I am sure many bloggers will now have second thoughts and will be more positive in their views.

All in all DSNR need somebody to act for him to say unpleasant things .Afterall all agreed that he is a nice man to the extend that people people take him for granted and say things that should not be said to a Pime Minister.So remember the saying that a person if cornered to the wall will fight back.I think we should take heed of DSRM advice and change our ways before the big axe fall on our head.

Kadir, It's meaningless in writing something to defend Najib. Rosmah's act has just killed Najib any chance of building up good image Don't be stupid, Kadir. Don't make us stupid. Seriously, it's defending the indefensible. If you deny Najib is not a forgivable person, then it means that Rosmah is hen-pecking Najib. If your assumption is wrong, that means Najib is a tyrant. In short, either way sure die.

Kadir, The fact that the present government has committed a harakiri by allowing Rosmah to make an interview. I think APCO should be gunned down. Heck, who is paying APCO, may I ask? We, the public It's simply because she is a wife of PM. Henceforth, it should be PM running the show. Tharacher didn't have problems with Denis staying out of the limelight. Why should Rosmah take on so much prominence? Either Rosmah stands for election as an MP & chosen as cabinet minister, barulah Rosmah boleh bercakap. Even LGE's wife also tidak bercakap macam Rosmah even though she was Malacca ADUN It's what capacity Rosmah is talking that matters

Kadir, The die has cast. Najib would surely mati from this. No matter how you write is useless. Just pull the trigger at Rosmah & APCO By the way, don't bluff if there is no on-going fight between Muhiyydin & Najib. The sensational disclosure didn't come from Pakatan but UMNO itself. Should UMNO goes the Kuomintang way during the chinese civil war? I think it deserves further attention as compared to the case of Pakatan Rakyat Failed Mariage

Kadir, I heard that Perlis UMNO is on fire. The Terengganu UMNO not yet die. Kelantan UMNO is in turmoil, thanks to Razaleigh. Else, Tok Pa doesn't come up with the ads. What's up with Nor & Khir Toyo? Why Personal Sec for Nor kenna tangkap? & Negeri Sembilan

PERMATA HATIKUSince early education has been the marketing tagline for Rosmah Mansur, I would suggest that she get a proper consultation e.g from Glenn DomanInstitute..the ministry of education in Singapore already heeded for that.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- As diplomatic efforts were frantically underway behind the scenes to secure the release of a Malaysian student detained by Egyptian authorities last month, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the prime minister's wife, received a call from former First Lady Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

Dr Siti Hasmah had sought her assistance to free Ibrahim Mohd Azmi, 22, a student of the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom taken captive in Egypt while he was with a Viva Palestina convoy to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza.

Rosmah swung into action immediately, making several phone calls to various authorities. She also called a friend thousands of kilometres away.

Suzanne Mubarak was no ordinary friend. She was the wife of the Egyptian president. Rosmah had befriended her while attending the Summit of the First Ladies of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, last July. They became close.

The phone call helped. Ibrahim was freed. ..........continue

comment:

I think this Bernama report of Rosmah's long statement about her role as "first lady" is the after effect of your writing. It looks like a public relation exercise or a damage control exercise to accentuate her standing.

About Me

I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).